Key container



Aug. 12, 1958 D. H|LL` KEY CONTAINER Filedpeo. s1, 195s INVEN TOR. H/ LL DA V/D HIS A TVTURA/Eys United States Patent() KEY CONTAINER DavidHill, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1953, Serial No. 401,593

4 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) My invention relates to a key container, and moreparticularly to one of the type which provides for selective release ofa particular key without disturbing the remaining keys in suchcontainer.

Among the objects of my invention are: l

(1) To provide a novel and improved key container;

(2) To provide a novel and improved key container of the type whichpermits of selective release of any of a plurality of keys in suchcontainer;

(3) To provide a novel and improved key container in which the keyretaining and key release means are an integral part of a molded case;

(4) To provide a novel and improved key container of molded plastic'construction;

(5) To provide a novel and improved key container having many desirablefeatures of construction and which lends itself to economicalmanufacture.

Additional objects of my invention Will be brought out in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l isa three-dimensionalview of my invention in its preferred form;

Figure 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the device of Figure l,depicting internal details of construction;

Figure 3 is a view of one half of the device of Figure l, depicting themanner of holding keys therein;

Figure 4 is a View in section, taken in the plane 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in section, taken in the plane 5-5 of Figure l; v

Figure 6 is a view in section, taken in the plane 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferredform, the s-ame comprises a pair of plates 1 and 3 of substantiallyrectangular form and which may be of identical construction, so designedas to be complementary when one is reversed and mounted in superposedrelationship to the other.

With this in mind, each of such plates adjacent each of a pair ofdiagonal corners, is provided with a pivot post 7 for pivotally holdinga key 9 to be carried in such container.

Adjacent the remaining diagonal corners of the plate, the plate isformed with integral blocks 11, each of which is provided with a recess13 so located as to receive a pivot post 7 of the opposing plate, whentwo such plates are assembled in the manner previously indicated. Thepost and blocks in their assembled relationship provide spacing meansbetween the plates adjacent the four corners thereof.

Corresponding spacing between plates, centrally thereof, is provided bya central boss 15 on each plate of a height equal to half the spacing.

The two halves of the container may be removably assembled by holdingthem together with a pair of removable clips 14 of U-shape adapted tofrictionally straddle Hee the ends of the container, grooves beingpreferably provided in the container walls to retain said clips againstshifting and to partially submerge them.

Keys pivotally assembled on the posts 7 are retained within thecontainer by means which is purely frictional as distinguished from stopwalls or the like. In accordance with the present invention suchfriction holding means is in the form of a tongue 17, for each such key,the tongue being anchored at one end to an edge of an opening 19 in thecontainer and extending across the shank of its associated key in closespaced relationship to its side of the container. Each such tonguepreferably terminates adjacent an edge ofthe container so that a key mayreadily and conveniently bel urged within the frictional grasp of atongue without complicating the container design by resorting to edgenotches etc.

With a key so held, its release may be realized merely by flexing orotherwise displacing the tongue away from yits side of the container andpermitting the key to swing out of the case by gravity. To effect suchmovement of the tongue, provision is made for depressing the tongue bythe application of finger pressure thereto from outside of thecontainer. This is made possible by extending the anchored end of thetongue up through its associated opening to form a pressure tab 21.These tabs may be numbered or embossed in some manner to identify thekeys released thereby.

An important aspect of the key container of the present invention is thefact that both halves of the case are identical, and that the half caseincluding the tongues and pressure tabs may be molded of plastic and inone piece. This not only makes for economy in the manufacture of thedevice, but the integral molding of the tongues results in these tonguesbeing flexibly anchored thus enabling the pressure tabs to perform theirfunction in releasing keys.

It is furthernoted that the use of clips facilitates the assembly anddisassembly of the device and eliminates completely the use of rivets ormachine screws.

It will be apparent that the invention as described in its preferredform, fulfills all the objects listed therefor, and while I havedescribed my invention in its preferred form and in considerable detail,the same is subject to alteration land modication without departing fromthe underlying principles involved, and I, accordingly do not desire tobe limited in my protection to such details as I have illustrated anddescribed, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A key container comprising a pair of opposed pl-ates, at least onehaving a pivot post integral therewith on which to pivotally mount akey, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchoredat one end to one of them and extending across the shank position of akey when mounted on said post and lying Within the container, tofrictionally retain such key within the container, said resilientlyanchored tongue permitting manual displacement thereof away from itsretaining position to free `a frictionally held key for pivotal movementout of said container by gravity.

2. A key container comprising a pair of opposed plates, at least onehaving a pivot post integral therewith on which to pivotally mount akey, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchoredat one end to one of them and extending to an edge thereof across theshank position of a key when mounted on said post and lying within thecontainer to frictionally retain such key within the container, andmeans for displacing said tongue away from its retaining position tofree a frictionally held key for pivotal movement out of said containerby gravity, said means including an extension of said tongue Udiagonalcorners on which to pivotally mount a key, a

-spacer means adjacent' each of the remaining cornersV and integral withsaid plate,'said spacer means serving to 'maintain said plates in'spacedrelationship, a tongue between said plates, integrally and resilientlyanchored at 'one end to one of them and extending to an edge thereofacross the shank position of a key when mounted on one ofsaid posts andlying within the container, to frictionally retain such key within thecontainer, additional tongues similarly anchored and disposed withrespect to the shank positions *of other keys, each of said resilientlyanchored tongues permitting manual displacement thereof away from itsretaining position to free a frictionally held keyfor'p'ivotal-movement'out of said container by gravity. 4'. A keycontainer comprising a pair of opposed plates v each having an integralpivot post in each of a pair of ldiagonal corners on which to pivotallymount a key,

integral spacer means adjacent each of the remaining corners, saidspacer means serving to maintain said plates in spaced relationship, atongue between said plates, integrally and resiliently anchored at oneend to one of them and extending to an edge thereof across the shankposition of a key when mounted on one of saidposts and lying within saidcontainer, to frictionally retain such key within the container,additional tongues similarly anchored and disposed with respect to theshank positions of other keys, and means for displacing a tongue awayfrom its retaining position to free a frictionally held key for pivotalmovement out of said container by gravity, said means including anextension of said tongue up through an opening in the plate to Whichsaid tongue is anchored.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,766,599 Cahill June 24, 1930 2,029,696 Bennett Feb. 4, 1936 2,274,820Bills Mar. 3, 1942 2,387,319 Evans Oct. 23, 1945 2,433,644 Bennetch Dec.30,1947 2,479,524 Tarbox Aug. 16, 1949 2,517,500 McPherson et al Aug.1,1950 2,657,569 Hill Nov. 3,'1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 424,172v Italy Aug.8, 1947

